Leveling device for cigarette machine feeds



Feb. 27, 1934. G. w. GWINN 1,948,575

LEVELiNG DEVICE FOR CIGARETTE MACHINE FEEDS Filed March 21, 1933 FIG.|

ATTOR N EY Patented Feb. 27, 1934 UNITED STATES LEVELING DEVICE FOR CIGARETTE MACHINE FEEDS George W. Gwinn, Hewlett, N. Y., assignor to American Machine & Foundry Company, a corporation of New Jersey Application March 21,

2 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved leveling device for cigarette machine feeds, its main object being to keep the mass of tobacco on the feed drum at a constant level by wiping the excess 5 tobacco back Without scattering it, and also to promote the rotation of the mass of tobacco. With these and other objects not specifically mentioned in view, the invention consists in certain constructions and combinations hereinafter fully described and then specifically set forth in the claims hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawing which forms a part of this specification, and in which like characters of reference indicate the same or like parts:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of the tobacco feed showing the location of the improved leveling device; and

Fig. 2 is an end view taken on line 22 of Fig. 1.

In carrying the invention into effect there is provided a hopper, a feed drum, and a leveling device comprising shaft bearings adjustably secured to the side walls of the hopper, a cross shaft journaled in said bearings, a plurality of concavoconvex blades mounted on said cross shaft and extending continuously across the hopper, and means for driving said cross shaft to rotate said blades with their convex side foremost to wipe back excess tobacco from the mass of tobacco on the feed drum without scattering it and to promote the rotation of the mass of tobacco. In the best constructions contemplated the shaft bearings are adjustable along an arcuate path concentric with the feed drum, and the driving means includes sprockets on the feed drum and cross shaft and coaxial therewith, and a sprocket chain running over said sprockets, whereby the cross shaft may be adjusted Without varying the length of said chain. These various means and parts may be widely varied in construction within the scope of the claims for the particular device selected to illustrate the invention is but one of many possible concrete embodiments of the same.

The invention, therefore is not to be restricted to the specific construction shown and described.

The hopper 10 of the cigarette machine feed, supports the improved leveling device comprising a cross shaft 11 on which is mounted a sleeve 12 carrying a plurality of concavo-convex blades 13 which extend continuously across the hopper and serve to wipe back excess tobacco from the mass of tobacco on the feed drum 20 without scattering it when the shaft is rotated in a counterclockwise direction as indicated in Fig. 1, and to promote the rotation of said mass to cause it to enter between the pins of the feed drum more effectively. The shaft 11 carries a sprocket 14, being driven by a sprocket chain 15 running over 69 a driven sprocket 16, mounted on the feed drum 1933. Serial No. 661,988

shaft 17. The ends of shaft 11 are mounted in shaft bearings consisting of disks 18, adjustably attached to the side walls of the hopper 10. The disks 18 are preferably secured to the side walls of the hopper by bolts passing through holes in the disks and arcuate slots in the side walls, the slots being concentric with the shaft 17, whereby the leveling device may be adjusted to maintain different levels of tobacco in the hopper without having to vary the length of the chain 15. A plurality of tampers 19 which are alternately raised and lowered by means shown in my copending application S. N. 661,989, filed March 21, 1933, rest on the mass of tobacco T, thus compressing the same to a uniform density, thereby inducing a uniform density of tobacco between the pins of the revolving feed drum 20. The surplus tobacco on the feed drum 21 is removed by the pins on the refuser drum 22, thereby forming a sheet of tobacco on the feed drum which due to the constant level of tobacco thereon, is of substantially uniform density.

What is claimed is:

1. In a cigarette machine feed, the combination with a hopper, of a feed drum, and a leveling device comprising shaft bearings adjustably secured to the side walls of said hopper, a cross shaft journaled in said bearings, a plurality of concavo-convex blades mounted on said cross shaft and extending continuously across said hopper, and means for driving said cross shaft to rotate said blades with their convex side foremost to wipe back excess tobacco from the mass of tobacco on the feed drum without scattering it and to promote the rotation of the mass of tobacco.

2. In a cigarette machine feed, the combination with a hopper, of a feed drum, and a leveling device comprising shaft bearings adjustably secured to the side walls of said hopper, a cross shaft journaled in said bearings, a plurality of concavoconvex blades mounted on said cross shaft and extending continuously across said hopper, and means for driving said cross shaft to rotate said blades with their convex side foremost to wipe back excess tobacco from the mass of tobacco on the feed drum without scattering it and to promote the rotation of the mass of tobacco, said shaft bearings being adjustable along an arcuate path concentric with the feed drum, and said means including sprockets on said feed drum and cross shaft and coaxial therewith, and a sprocket chain running over said sprockets, whereby said cross shaft may be adjusted without varying the length of said chain.

GEORGE W. GWINN. 

